Center for Weight Management and Bariatric Surgery
What to Expect for Bariatric Surgery
At the Center for Weight Management and Bariatric Surgery, our comprehensive weight loss program is uniquely designed just for you, and will include all the emotional, physical, and medical aspects of weight loss to ensure you will be successful.
Our experienced medical professionals follow you before, during, and after surgery. Before surgery, there is education and programming to help you prepare, and then regular follow up appointments after surgery to make sure you stay healthy and on track with your weight loss goals. Patients can expect to be active in our program for about 12 months.
Preparation for Bariatric Surgery
2 – 3 months before surgery you will have:
- An initial consultation with one of our nurse practitioners to review your health history and determine what testing and appointments will be required
- An individual dietary evaluation where we start preparing you for surgery
- Met with our mental health provider for your psychological evaluation
- Met with your bariatric surgeon to discuss your procedure, risks and benefits
- Completed online education modules preparing you for bariatric surgery
- Met individualized goals that have been previously discussed with your registered dietitian
- Completed all x-rays and tests and see any specialists that is recommended
What to Expect for Bariatric Surgery?
At your initial appointment, our Nurse Practitioner will review your past medical, surgical, social and dieting history and answer any questions. Based on this meeting, she will determine what testing you will need before surgery.
Our pre-operative bariatric surgery patients typically require the following:
- Blood work
- Abdominal ultrasound
- Abdominal X-ray
- Endoscopy (based on personal past medical history)
- Specialty consults with cardiology and anesthesia prior to surgery.
Other tests and consults may be needed and will be determined at this visit, such as seeing a pulmonologist (lung doctor) or hematologist (blood doctor). This decision will be based on your past medical history and or any of the results obtained from your initial testing. Your appointments for evaluations by a psychologist and dietitian will be made at this time.
Our staff works closely with your insurance company in order to successfully obtain prior authorization (approval for payment) for surgery. We follow your specific policy guidelines in order for your bariatric surgery to be approved. This may include specific program requirements such as testing, weight loss and length of medical supervision (time spent with us prior to your scheduled procedure). It is important to familiarize yourself with your specific policy and pre-surgical requirements.
As a requirement of this program, you will have a psychological evaluation with our Mental Health Provider, who will determine if you are emotionally ready for surgery. During your visit he will review your present lifestyle, what type of support network you have, any depression or anxiety issues you may be dealing with, and what kind of stresses you may face after the surgery. If you already have a therapist, the psychologist will ask for your permission to speak with him/her.
A registered dietitian will meet with you individually on a monthly basis to discuss your diet and weight loss history and educate you about your nutrition needs after bariatric surgery while also helping you to lose weight along the way. You will see the dietitian at least twice prior to surgery.
You will be given an appointment for a consultation with one of our bariatric surgeons, who will review the surgery with you and address your questions and concerns. He or she will also review the tests that you have had. You will meet with your surgeon twice prior to your surgery.
You may wish to print a list of questions for your surgeon